Romania and its Defense Strategy

Romania has a new defense strategy, which will be submitted to Parliament for approval.

Roxana Vasile, 10.06.2015, 13:58

A strong Romania in Europe and the world is the subtitle
of Romania’s national defense strategy, which the country’s Supreme Defense Council will send to Parliament for approval. At the end of a Council meeting
on Tuesday, president Klaus Iohannis provided some details:

My vision is that of a strong Romania in Europe and the world, which in my
opinion means three things: a state that defends its citizens, wherever they
are; a state that defends its values, interests and symbols, as well as its
national goods and natural resources and which makes education and healthcare
its priorities; and thirdly, a state that contributes to maintaining collective
security alongside its partners and to promoting democracy and freedom. All
these require from our part continuity in terms of our commitments and
predictability in terms of our actions. Continuity and predictability will make
us a credible and reliable country in this very complicated region.

According to president Iohannis, Romania’s defense strategy also entails
a new concept, that of ‘extended security’. The president explained:

National security is not only about defense; it also has to do with public
order, the economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, the environment and
culture, all of which have an impact on national security.

The new strategy reaffirms the importance of Romania’s strategic
partnership with the US and its NATO and European Union membership as pillars
of the country’s foreign and security policy. As proof of its involvement in
the European project, Bucharest will propose, at the upcoming meeting of the
European Council this month, the creation of a new common security strategy. On
a domestic level, the strategy provides for the continuation, in 2015, of the
army’s restructuring and modernization process and its provision with new
equipment by 2027.

Ahead of the meeting of the country’s Supreme Defense Council, president
Iohannis had consultations with the representatives of the parliamentary
parties. Initiated in February, the consultation process also included talks
with civil society and the academic community. The conclusion in Bucharest is
that an effective strategy must start from the consolidation of democratic and
security processes at home and continue with the compliance with the strategic
commitments taken as part of NATO and the European Union.